Following the cancellation of Kenya’s presidential election by the country’s Supreme Court, Kenya’s election commission Monday announced a new date of October 17 for a fresh poll.

This was contained in a statement signed by chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC, Wafula Chebukati.

Chebukati said only Kenyatta on the one hand, and opposition leader Raila Odinga who brought the court challenge would be on the ballot paper, along with their running mates.

At least one of the six other minor candidates who participated in August’s election immediately threatened to go to court insisting he be included on next month’s ballot.

On Friday, Chief Justice, David Maraga, cancelled the results of the August poll saying the election commission had failed to hold a legitimate election and that the results were therefore “invalid, null and void”.

He added that the IEBC had committed “irregularities and illegalities” in the transmission of results from polling stations to the national tally centre. However, a full explanation of the court’s reasoning has yet to be published.

Chebukati stated that “It is imperative that a detailed judgement is released in order to allow the Commission to identify areas that require improvement,”

He called for patience and understanding among all stakeholders as the commission works to deliver free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. The apex court ordered fresh elections within 60 days, but that order has now been reset.